Formula Bmw Usa San Jose Grand Prix Preview

As Formula BMW USA joins the Champ Car WorldBehind these three are Maxime Pelletier (HBR
Series for two consecutive race weekends, the SanMotorsport Team USA), Alexander Rossi (Team
Jose Grand Prix will host the 9th and 10th rounds ofApex Racing USA) and Steven Guerrero (HBR
the 2007 Formula BMW USA Championship on July 27Motorsport Team USA) standing fourth, fifth and
- 29. Seventeen young drivers entered the race withsixth respectively.
a 1.5-mile, 7-turn Redback Raceway. Reports say itSeries graduates also continue to shine as they climb
will provide quite a contrast to the rolling 4.0-mile,the motorsport ladder. The San Jose Grand Prix will
15-turn Road America circuit where Rounds 11 and 12seem to be a reunion as many graduates compete in
will be held on August 9 - 12.the Champ Car Atlantic Championship. Taking the
Part of the BMW 325e parts making company; theoverall pole, Robert Wickens (2006 Formula BMW
Formula BMW USA Championship passed the midst ofUSA Champion) finished second in the opening round
the season at Lime Rock Park on July 6 - 7. Round 8of the Champ Car Atlantic season at the Las Vegas
marked the 50th Formula BMW USA race since theGrand Prix and won in just his fourth start in Portland.
series started in 2004.Eight more Formula BMW USA graduates are racing in
So far, three young men have stood on the top stepAtlantics this year: James Hinchcliffe (04), Kevin
of the podium. They are also atop the overall pointLacroix (05), Matt Lee (06), Tom Sutherland (04, 05),
standings. Daniel Morad (Eurointernational), one raceSimona De Silvestro (06), Frankie Muniz (06), Adrien
winner last year on his way to the RookieHerberts (05, 06) and David Garza (06).
Championship, has earned five more victories thisAmong the first group of Formula BMW USA Junior
year, making him the driver with the most careerscholarship winners, Graham Rahal became the first
Formula BMW USA wins and a 77-point leader.Formula BMW USA graduate to earn a full-time drive
Sophomore driver Sebastian Saavedrain the Champ Car World Series with his start at Las
(Eurointernational), who had an advance win in RoundVegas this year. He became the youngest ever to
7 at Lime Rock Park, placed second in overall points.reach a Champ Car World Series podium with his
Rookie Esteban Gutierrez (Autotecnica) after twosecond-place finish in the Grand Prix of Houston just
17th place finishes at Lime Rock may have fallen fivethis April.
points behind Saavedra, but the 15-year old still leadsRound 10 qualifying will be held on Saturday at 11:50 -
the Rookie standings. Gutierrez is a holder of a12:20 p.m.
record six straight poles in Rounds 1 through 6.